I'm going to put more up soon. I'm a little distracted because the sun is actually shining here today and it finally feels like spring! Going to take the dogs for a nice long walk before I force my self to stay inside and take pictures

Those little shibs disappeared in record time. I should have made more, so that's what I'm going to do the next couple day. I'm on the studio now and just wondering if anyone has any size requests?? I usually try to make various sizes to please different preferences, but if you want anything specific, hit me up. Thanks.

I just thought I'd post this Matcha making video I made here. It's very basic and I don't get into too much detail. I made it to give the customers of our local artist cooperative a better idea of what my work is about, in simple terms. Most folks who walk into our store have no idea what a teabowl is or what it's used for. So, that's my disclaimer (excuse ) for my crummy technique http://cazenoviaartisans.blogspot.com/2 ... cebook&m=1

I hate to say this but I had a roommate, that every time I would view a lot of Chawan photos, he would say I was looking at "cereal bowls." While I cringe thinking about a very specialized teabowl being used for cereal, soup or what have you, instead of matcha, from the point of view of someone trying to sell their pieces, if someone wants to pay several hundred dollars for a bowl for ceral or soup then more power to them.

In the end nice bowls are nice bowls, but it is great when they are used for their intended porpose. (Kind of makes me wonder if the artists thate made the humble rice bowls were upset when they were chosen for the Tea Ceremony.)

My first creek-side tea of the season It was the perfect day for it here and I just enjoyed the heck out of it!

Matcha followed by a lazy gyokuro session with some spiritual reading.

Simple set up on a cedar log, chainsawed flat-ish
Matcha first, this is going to be good!
They say food tastes better outside, well that holds true for tea as well. Yummy, but it's gone too fast! While glazing gaiwans for debunix I decided to glaze this tenmoku style chawan with the same glaze combo since I had the glaze buckets out. Nice I think (I might have to make more of these )
Doubled the chawan as a boat for the shib, nestling it in nice warm water. I find this really helpful when brewing with these small pots.
I love this shot of the brew. It evokes the feelings I had today, reflection on my surroundings coupled with enjoyment of the moment (and the tea)
After 3 steeps in the shib I transfered the leaf back into the chawan, adding very hot water, direct or grampa style brewing several more lovely bowls of sweet and floral tea. I love drinking tea like this, especially gyokuro because I enjoy nibbling the leaves

That's another lovely bowl with that tenmoku/iron red glaze combination. It's hard to photograph but easy to love.

And wonderful outdoor tea setup. I haven't set up the tea porch yet--some remaining remodeling debris to remove first--but I hope to be out there in a few weeks. Meanwhile, I'm enjoying tea indoors, which right now is pretty pleasant, with windows open and screens keeping down the skeeters.

One of the other teas I enjoyed today was a gyokuro from the present OTTI--my first time with #1--and I prepped it in a small shibo that I couldn't resist adding to the tenmoku gaiwan:

It has pleasing streaks of blue where the celadon pooled a little, perhaps?